Coal stocks of Ukrainian TPP down by 9.7% in past week – ministry

Coal stocks at the warehouses of thermal power plants across Ukraine from June 19 to June 26 decreased by 9.7%, to 1.449 million tonnes, the press service of the Ministry of Energy and Coal Industry reports.

In particular, reserves of anthracite coal over the specified period were reduced by 4%, to 372,000 tonnes, while coal reserves of gas-grade coal – by 11.6%, to 1.07 million tonnes.

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UNIAN memo. As a result of the ongoing hostilities in the east of Ukraine, the country has been experiencing a significant shortage of coal, primarily anthracite used to fuel TPPs. Production of anthracite is concentrated in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, in areas controlled by Russian-backed forces.

Energy companies began to convert TPP units, which previously operated on anthracite, into gas-grade coal, which led to an increase in the consumption of G-grade fuel. Extraction rates lag behind growing consumption, therefore there is also shortage of the said type. To resolve the issue, energy companies entered into contracts for coal imports from South Africa and the United States.